Flexible road-drag.



O. G. LUTHER.

FLEXIBLE ROAD DRAG.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm 13,1913,

1, 1 16,306. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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FLEXIBLE ROAD DRAG.

APPLICATION 211.21) mm: 1a, 1013.

1,1 16,306. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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O. G. LUTHER. FLEXIBLE ROAD DRAG.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1913. 1, 1 1 6,306, Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTOC. LUTHER, 0F ANAMOOSE, NORTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 0F ONE-SEVENTH TO MARTIN HUBLOU, ONE-SEVENTH TO DANIEL J. MURPHY, ONE-SEVENTH TO WILLIAM H. CHAPEK, ONE-SEVENTH TO MATTHEW R. FRITZ, ONE-SEVENTH T0 PAUL F. BIBOW, AND ONE-SEVENTH TO CONRAD MARTIN AND ONE-SEVENTH TO F. J. FUNKE, BOTH OF ANAMOOSE, NORTH DAKOTA.

FLEXIBLE ROAD-DRAG.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed June 13, 1913. Serial N 0. 773,497.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'rro C. LUTHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anamoose, in the county of McHenry and State of North Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flexible Road- Drags, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has .for an object to improve road drags of that type presented in my copending application Serial No. 7 7 0,594 in which two sections of parallelogrammic construction with pivotal connections are tobe held in adjustable angular relation to each other. i

It is an object to improve the means for securing the sections in their adjusted angular relations, and to give a wide range of adjustment in that respect, with a simple construction not requiring numerous or expensive parts, but adapted to be built up from stock materials readily available at low cost.

A further object is to simplify the connections required between the scraper plates.

It is a purpose to enable the mounting of a platform to support operators in a novel manner which will be supported on the scraper sections and will. not require to be detached nor the connections modified when the angular relation of the sections is changed.

A further aim is to improve the means for adjusting the scraper plates in angular relation to the road surface.

Additional objects and advantages will appear, some of which will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the: invention, and drawings thereof in which,

Figure 1 is a top view of the drag, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified adjustment of the parts, Fig. 3 is a side view, enlarged, Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional view centrally of the platform.

There is illustrated a drag including two sections 10, each having two scraper plates 11, with sharpened lower edges held in parallel relation by three longitudinally spaced connecting bars. 12 secured pivotally to the inner sides of the plates at a common height thereon-the bars being apertured at their ends and having eye-bolts 13 engaged therei in and secured to the respective plates, these connections constituting universal pivots. The central bar 12 has fixed thereon an upright 14, and fixed on the respective plates adjacent. the ends of the middle bar 12 there are levers 15 extending above the plates, circular in cross section a spaced distance from their upper ends each having engaged revolubly thereon a pivot casting 16 held against sliding movement by suitable collars 17 above and below. Pivoted on each of these castings there is an ad justing rod 18 having longitudinally spaced apertures for a suitable distance therein. The rods project inwardly beyond the upright 14 in overlapped relation with those extended from the opposite sides of the sections, their apertures being adapted to register independently with an aperture 19 in the upright, which, as shown, comprises two parallel bars between which the rods are slidably engaged. By means of the pin 20 engaged through the upright and the registered openings of the rods the plates 11 are held in fixed angular relation to the horizontal and by removing the pin the plates may be adjusted commonly or individually to various angles with respect to the horizontal and so held upon replacement of the pin. Any suitable means may beeinployed to hold the pin against casual disengagement.

The two sections are connected with their inner ends spaced apart a suitable distance, the innermost rods 12 being connected by suitable diagonals 21 which may be of any suitable material and form for holding these two rods in rigid parallel relation and against relative longitudinal movement. The forward plate of each section has adj acent each end a pull-bar 22 having a suit able eye in its outer forward end. Connected to the inner bar 22 of one section there is a lengthof chain 23 sullicient to extend across the space between the sections and beyond the pull-bar of the opposite section from that to which it is attached. In all of the other pull-bars, of both sections, there are loosely engaged pear-shaped chainclips 24, the enlarged part of which is formed with an opening of sufficient size to receive slidably therethrough a chain such as that 23 before mentioned, from which opening extends the tapered slot 25 into which one link of the chain may be tightly fitted by lateral longitudinal movement of the chain, preventing further longitudinal movement of the chain through the clip.'

The free end of the chain 23 is engaged in the adjacent clip2et of the opposite section 10, while chains 26 are similarly engaged with the outermost clips of respective sections, one end of each chain being connected to the draw-bars 27, the outer ends of which are connected to a ring 28 which may be engaged with a swingletree.

A chain 29 somewhat heavier than those 23 and 26 extends rearwardly from the ring 28 and is engaged in clip 30, the large part of which is engaged slidably on the chain 23. By adjusting the outermost clips 24 inwardly or outwardly on the chains 26, the outer ends of the plates 11 are adjusted forwardly or rearwardly with relation to their inner ends, so that the angle at which the plates are set with respect to-direction of travel of the drag may be adjusted to. The chains 23.

suit varied requirements. and 29 may also be adjusted in the respective clips by which they are held to aid in the adjustment of the plates as described without having the drag too close to, or too far from, the draft team. The use of the clips will be readily understood, the disengagement of the chain being effected by simply pressing an engaged link from the slot 25 into the large part of the clip and pulling the chain therethrough to the clesired position, when the particular link then in the clip is forced into the slot. This form of clip is adapted to insure the chain against casual disengagement, as gravity and the draft strain tend to force the chain intoengaged position.

A platform 31 is mounted above the drag, having its lateral ends located over the middle bars 12 of respective sections of the drag, and provided with vertical transverse plates 32 parallel to the transverse axis of the platform, resting upon the respective bars 12 and projecting equal distances on each side of the bars when the plates 11 are at right angles to the bars 12, as in Fig. 1. The platform is also slotted as at 33 at each end intermediately of the plates 32 and the respective standards 14 are projected upwardly through the slots. The outer ends of these slots may be closed by latches 3st whereby the platform may be shifted laterally out of engagement with the uprights for removal. If desired, parallel plates 35 may be secured to the under side of the platform extending in a fore and aft direction having their lower edges spaced above the diagonal 21 and receiving therebetween a stud 36 secured on the diagonals, whereby the platform is held against shifting laterally from an intermediate position on the drag. A suitable seat 37 is mounted upon a tripod 38 at the rear of the platform, upon which a driver and operator may sit.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the adjustment of the plates to perform a chiseling or a mere dragging action may be easily accomplished at will, and they may be set at any angle desired whereby the road surface may be treated superficially or cut away to a considerable depth. One plate on a section may be arranged with its lower part inclined rearwardly to perform a dragging action, while the corresponding portion of the other plate may be inclined forwardly to chisel the surface.

In the adjustment of the sections at various inclinations with respect to the direction of travel the middle bars 12 move longitudinally of the supporting plates 32, and the uprights 14 are received slidably in slots 33. The pivotal connection of the rods 18 to the castings 16 and the revoluble mounting of the latter permitsthe adjustment of the inclination of the plates 11 and their securement in adjusted positions no matter what the positions of the section 10 may be with relation to each other. i

When the plates 11 extend at right angles to the direction of movement, the surface of the road is simply worked to a smooth finish without removal of any material. lVith the 100 outer ends of the plates extended forwardly the loosened material is moved toward the center of the road-way, and when extended rearwardly the loosened material is moved toward the outer sides of the road. The one device is thus adapted to perform any of these functions in various degrees, and when the plates are set to perform a slight chiseling action the movement of material laterally will be more noticeable. The sections may also accommodate themselves readily to the slope of the road at opposite sides, andlthe platform 31 will be approximately leve What is claimed is: v

1. A drag of the class described comprising two sections, the major portions of which have oscillatory movement with respect to each other, each section including a fore and aft central portion having a bear- 120 ing surface, a transverse platform having spaced transverse plates at each end engaged slidably on said bearing surface and means to hold the platform intermediately of the drag.

2. A drag comprising two sections, each comprising a plurality of fore-and-aftspaced scraper plates, connecting bars therebetween universally pivoted thereon, a central rigid upright member carried by bars 130 of each section, a rigid upright member carried by the sections intermediately thereof, a platform extending over both sections and resting slidably upon the bars, a fore and aft guide device engaged slidably with the second named upright, and transverse guide means on the platform engaged with the first named uprights.

3. A drag comprising two sections, each having a plurality of fore-and-aft-spaced scraper plates, connecting bars universally pivoted thereon, a central rigid upright member carried by each section, a rigid u right connected to and carried interme iately of the sections, a platform extending over both sections and resting slidably upon link connections between said last named members and the first named uprights.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO C. LUTHER;

Witnesses:

P. F. Bmow, C. S, DUGSTAD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0." 

